OTB #1
06/10/2022
Out of the box (OTB #1)
Daniel Defense DDM4 V7
Welcome to the first “Out of The Box” review. In each OTB post, I will cover a firearm from first impressions, specifications, and things I would change/add. The OTB series is meant to be an informative post that can help answer questions you may have before purchasing a firearm or to be used as a guide on what upgrades you can do to your firearms. For the first OTB review, I’ll be discussing the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 rifle and how it performs and rates on a scale of 1-10 out of the box.
History of Daniel Defense
Founded in 2002 by Marty Daniel, Daniel Defense got its start by manufacturing rails for AR-15 style rifles. In 2003, the company expanded after winning a contract with the United States Special Forces to manufacture specialized rails. By 2009 Daniel Defense began manufacturing their own barrels and rifles. The lead ship product is their DDM4 AR-15 style rifle. Daniel Defense is known for their rifles, barrels and rails which are all used by U.S. Law Enforcement agencies and the U.S. military, including Special Operations. The National Rifle Association of America (NRA), named the DDM4 V7 as the 2017 gun of the year.
(Photo by Daniel Defense)
First Impressions
Upon opening the box, you’ll find your V7 inside Daniel Defense’s hard case lined with foam padding. Their V7 comes with Daniel Defense’s 32-Round magazine, an M-LOK rail system, and is equipped with a vertical grip. In my opinion, the placement of the vertical grip is in a perfect spot. It is different than most manufacturers, in that Daniel Defense has placed their vertical grips far forward on the rail which allows for your support arm to be extended out and is able to provide a great grip on your rail/handguard. Overall, the rifle looks good upon first glance. But as we know, looks aren’t everything. Let’s dig into the specifications of this rifle.
Specifications
Barrel
The V7 is equipped with a 16” Government Profile, Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel, Cold Hammer Forged, Chrome Lined barrel with a 1:7 twist. If you don’t know much about barrels, I will break it down for you:
Cold hammer forged (CHF) barrels are known to typically be the strongest and most durable barrels on the market. They have great lifespans and are highly accurate. Chrome-Moly Vanadium Steel (CMV) is the official mil-spec gun steel developed by Colt for the United States military-issued M16’s and M4’s. Vanadium greatly increases the strength and the stability of steel under high temperature. CMV is the best fit for machinegun and full-auto barrels. A chrome lined barrel is easier to clean and lasts longer than non-chrome-lined barrels. After 1000’s of rounds I have yet to see an issue with accuracy. Overall, the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 comes with a great barrel that will be accurate and durable out of the box. It’s no wonder when you remember that they used to be known for their barrels. This barrel alone, will put your AR-15 ahead of most in the market.
Upper/Lower Receiver
The V7’s lower receiver comes with an enhanced flared magazine well and rear receiver Quick Detach (QD) swivel attachment point. It also has the Daniel Defense pistol grip which has a rubberized section for added grip. The rubberized grip is a nice touch out of the box since most AR-15’s come standard with the A2 grip. An awesome feature on the V7 is the ambidextrous safety selector. If you want to shoot left-handed, you don’t have to switch anything on the rifle to manipulate the safety. Lastly, the trigger in the V7 is a stock mil-spec trigger with a short take-up before a break. The trigger pull is approximately 8lbs. This is stock for most AR-15’s out of the box.
The upper receiver comes with a Daniel Defense bolt carrier group (BCG), Ambidextrous charging handle, and MFR M-LOK 15” rail system. Their charging handle is a huge step up from the standard Mil-Spec charging handles a lot of other AR-15’s come with. It features ambidextrous handles so you can shoot left or right-handed without changing anything. The M-LOK rail system is a nice benefit of the V7, as it reduces the weight compared to a picatinny rail but still allows for maximum attachment points for accessories like lights, lasers, and foregrips. The M-LOK handguard is also free floating so it will not put pressure on the barrel when shooting. If you have ever seen a Daniel Defense buttstock, then you know they are recognizable anywhere. Daniel Defense’s buttstock features non-slip rubberized padding (similar to their grip), a QD attachment point, and interchangeable butt pads. The QD points in the buttstock are a huge bonus since not many AR-15’s come stock with QD attachment points in their buttstock. The rubberized padding adds a nice grip for your cheek weld and helps prevent your cheek weld from moving when shooting. The buttstock has a lightweight design to it which is the overall theme of this rifle.
Rating
My overall rating for the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 out of the box is 7/10. The barrel, M-LOK rail and Daniel Defense furniture make this AR-15 one of the top rifles out of the box.
Upgrades
1) A mil-spec trigger is fine if you don’t have experience with other after market triggers. I prefer a Geissele Two-Stage trigger. This will give you a nice take-up before the wall followed by a clean and crisp trigger pull. Adding the Geissele Two-Stage trigger can help with speed and consistency. If I wanted to go with a long-range build, I would substitute for a Single-Stage trigger.
2) Switch the buttstock with a Magpul CTR stock. These two stocks are similar, yet in my opinion the Magpul CTR stock is a little smaller and, in my opinion, has better ergonomics. This is preference, but I am not the biggest fan of the shape of the Daniel Defense buttstock.
3) Remove the muzzle device and add a Surefire flash hider. I prefer Surefire’s flash hiders due to their great reputation, quality, and flash reduction compared to other brands. This also will allow you to add a Surefire suppressor in the future.
4) Add a red dot optic. I am a fan of Aimpoints, EOTECHs, or even a Holosun if you are on a cheaper budget.
(V7 with BCM KAG grip, B5 Sytems SOPMOD stock, Surefire suppressor)
(V7 with Geissele rail, Magpul CTR stock, BCM vertical grip, Surefire suppressor)
